More Questions than Answers in Adam Herrman Case

January 07, 2009

There have been new developments in the case of Adam Herrman, an 11-year-old boy who went missing from Butler County, Kansas, roughly 10 years ago. The bizarre case first came to light three weeks ago, when a tipster contacted the Exploited and Missing Children's Unit. Officials won't disclose the nature of the tip; however it did cause them to open an investigation in the case.

Earlier today, investigators conducted a search of a Sedgwick County mobile home that was once owned by Adam's adoptive parents, Doug and Valerie Herrman. The home previously sat in a Towanda trailer park, where police were recently seen searching an empty lot.

Authorities took several bags into the house today; however it remains unclear what, if anything, was found. It has been speculated that investigators are trying to determine whether Adam died inside the home.

Investigators have received several statements from relatives of Adam's adoptive parents that allege he had been abused inside the residence.

Adam's aunt, 48-year-old Kim Winslow, told police that she witnessed Adam chained (possibly handcuffed) to a bathtub faucet in 1999. Winslow said that it was the last time that she saw him.

Other relatives have also came forward and told police similar stories.

One of the more outspoken witnesses has been the Herrman's biological son, 29-year-old Justin Herman. Justin told authorities that he never witnessed his father abuse Adam; however he has alleged that he witnessed his mother hit Adam with her hands and also a belt. Justin has further alleged that his mother would frequently lock Adam inside the bathroom.

Valerie Herrman has allegedly admitted to spanking Adam with a belt and forcing him to sleep in the bathtub, but she denies he was abused. Her definition of abuse remains unclear.

Investigators have named both Doug and Valerie Herrman "people of interest" in the case.

Meanwhile, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has released a computer-enhanced photo of Adam that shows what he would look like today. Investigators have released the photo to the media; however it is their belief that Adam is no longer alive.

Investigators are planning to expand their search this weekend to include areas of the Whitewater River in southern Kansas. Authorities have said that they have not received any specific tips leading them to that area and that they are only trying to rule out places where a person could easily dispose of a body.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Butler County sheriff's office at 800-794-0190.

Related Link:
Boy Missing 10 Years Focus of Bizarre Missing Child Case

Comments

[TC]

If ADULTS witnessed abuse why did they not come forward? How cowardly is it to sit there and allow a child to be abused? I hope they have trouble sleeping at night.

In my eyes they are just as guilty as the ones that abused Adam.

[Compassrose]

Why didn't the aunt report this poor child was being chained/handcuffed to a bathroom faucet? Did she think that was normal? It really hurts to think all these people now have the guts to admit they witnessed Adam's abuse but did nothing to help him when he needed it. The odds are improbable this boy is still alive, but if he is, and I was Adam, I would stay silent and let all these people stew in their own juices.

[Kim2]

The aunt should be charged with child endangerment/neglect if she saw abuse and did nothing. What kind of scum are these people?? Chained to the bathroom faucet?

[Kim]

All of those who witnessed abuse of him should be arrested. I think there should be a law in place that would prosecute people who are witnesses to child abuse but do not come forward and are indifferent especially if the child dies as a direct result of their indifference.

[Tami]

The ONLY person- as far as I can tell- that even attempted to help this young boy, was his older brother, Justin (the Herrman's biological son). But apparently Valerie Herrman convinced him to tell the police he was lying.

I really hope Adam is alive, but given what we know so far, I'm not feeling very positive about it at all. There are so many people who lovingly adopt children, who have no other children to love, and then people like this (allegedly) abuse and harm them. Why bother? Why adopt or have children if you don't want to love and care for them?

[TC]

Kim....there are laws about that. I don't know if every state is the same or what but down here if you witness child abuse and you don't report it you can face charges, not sure if they are as harsh as the abuser or not though.

[GW]

Beating with a belt and making a child sleep in a bath tub is not abuse??? good grief. Of course, these people are guilty...who wouldnt report a missing child? I read somewhere else that he had run away before, but you would still report a runaway. they didnt call police, for the same reason Casey Anthony didnt call police...guilty!..I bet if they would have given that little boy to his bio dad who wanted custody, he would be safe and alive today. Our child service system is such a joke! They take away a child who is abused and given to another family who abuse him and possible killed him- instead of giving his biodad the opportunity to raise him....yeah that worked out really well..why wouldnt CPS keep in contact with this little boy and this family and make sure he was doing fine?..makes me sick! We need to pray for All these poor children that get stuck with such evil people!

[Buzz]

I just don't know what to say. I've been stunned since reading about Adam yesterday.

[cb]

On top of all the issues involving not reporting the abuse, the abuse itself, what the heck is going on with state-run agencies that remove a child from one dangerous/hellacious situation only to place that child in a more violent/fatal environment?

You hear this all the time!

[Rhonda M.]

I didn't think it was possible that ANYONE could make Casey Anthony seem like a good mother...

[Julie from Boston]

It's mind-blowing that people are able to be missing for this long without anyone caring enough to question it or report it to authorities. How sad.

[Sheller]

Ten years ago the aunt would have been 38. Certainly seems like she would have been old enough to dial 911 or the County Social Services office. I'm glad Justin is being honest now, but at 19, even he was old enough to drop an anonymous tip to the police about his adopted brother being abused. Valerie, if you didn't care enough to report him missing, did you just think your beatings and bathroom prison didn't work at making him love your family? Oh, let me guess, you were all probably getting some sort of subsistence money from the state for your big hearts. I'll imagine you have been collecting it for years. Any other adopted children missing from your home? Foster kids?

[WAR]

There was more activity in the search for Adam Herrman today. The Butler County Sheriff’s Dept. searched an area along the Whitewater River that was about a mile away from the trailer court where the Herrman family was living when Adam went missing. There was no particular evidence that led the Butler County Sheriff’s Dept. to search there. Sheriff Craig Murphy stated that the area just seemed to be one of a few more likely places that Adam’s body may have been disposed of, if indeed he was killed.

The Sheriff’s intentions are to eventually search a four-mile stretch along the river as time and resources present themselves. The search group today included investigators from the Butler County Sheriff’s Dept., K-9 units from Sedgwick County Emergency Management and a Wichita State University anthropology professor and his students. They looked for any telltale signs of a grave or a burial and human bones. The odds of finding and recognizing any evidence would seem to be pretty slim, as the area has flooded a number of times since Adam disappeared.

In addition to the area along the Whitewater River, investigators have thus far searched: the lot in the trailer court in Towanda, KS on which the Herrman’s trailer sat as well as several sheds in the trailer court; the mobile home that the Herrmans were living in when Adam disappeared; and the Herrman’s current residence. The activity at the old mobile home was more of a survey than a search. I don’t think the investigators expected to find much of anything for evidence after 11 years, a move of the home and occupancy by several other families. But they needed to be familiar with the layout of the house in order to be specific about questions and answers during their interviews.

Other relatives have come forward with more accusations about abuse of Adam, specifically by Valerie Herrman, Adam’s adoptive mother. Sam Bush, Valerie’s brother and Crystal Herrman, Doug & Valerie Herrman’s biological daughter have added their accounts of abuse to the growing list of allegations. All of the friends and family members provide the same reason for not reporting the abuse they witnessed: fear of aggravating Valerie Herrman and making things worse for Adam.

Doug and Valerie Herrman continue to deny the allegations of abuse and maintain that Adam ran away after being spanked with a belt.

I expect that we will see at least some charges levied against the Herrmans at some point in the future. The Wichita Eagle reports that the Herrmans continued to receive more than $700 is support from the State of Kansas each month for Adam’s care. Thus far, the Herrmans’ statements (as reported by the Wichita Eagle) seem to constitute an admission of fraud.

But I would ask readers to consider that Adam Herrman may not be dead. Or that Adam may be dead, but that Doug and/or Valerie Herrman may not be the killers. If it had been me that was subjected to Valerie Herrman’s abuses, I would have left and I would never have returned. I would have run away from my biological parents, let alone adoptive parents. Given Adam’s history and frustration with social services bureaucracies, I likely wouldn’t have been inclined to run to them either.

So, in my mind, Adam feasibly could possibly be out there somewhere, living under an assumed identity. (He might have changed his name assuming that social services and/or the Herrmans might be trying to find him.) Or, after running away and becoming one of society’s ‘disposable’ kids, he could have run afoul of others who prey on such kids.

This is truly one of those needle-in-a-haystack situations.

[cb]

He could be alive, and that would be a miracle. But if this woman Valerie was so fearsome, by all accounts, it is sadly more likely that the level of her abuse escalated, to the point of homicide.

Whatever the results here, is there a statute of limitations on abuse?

[WAR]

More history on Adam Herrman is reported in the Wichita Eagle (Kansas.com) by reporter Tim Potter today. He writes that the Derby, KS Police Dept. and SRS investigated two reports of abuse to Adam before he disappeared. One in 1996 and one in 1998. The article states that Adam was removed from the Herrman home for two days subsequent to the investigation in 1996, but was then returned. I am assuming that the return of Adam to the Herrmans means that Derby Police and SRS determined that the complaint was unfounded or that lack of evidence or cooperation precluded them from taking action.

It was after the 1998 complaint that the Herrmans moved to Towanda and began to home-school Adam. I'’ thinking the 1998 complaint may have been made through Adam's contacts at school in Derby.

Potter also reports that Kansas State Senator Jean Schodorf (R-Wichita / Ass’t Senate Majority Leader) has asked SRS for a complete accounting of their contacts with Adam. Perhaps those of us who live in Kansas will gain some insight into how much caretaker responsibility remains with the State after they place a child into adoption. Nothing in Potter’s article mentions anything about how much money the Herrmans were given in support of Adam or if there was any case management of Adam or followe-up to case management of Adam.

[cb]

TO WAR/Your quote:.... "It was after the 1998 complaint that the Herrmans moved to Towanda and began to home-school Adam. I'’ thinking the 1998 complaint may have been made through Adam's contacts at school in Derby."

That's a really strong indicator of things getting worse. Thanks for the post. It sounds as though they removed Adam from the outlet that would have reported future abuses, thus they were cut off. How tremendously sad. I bet that (the parents) they put on a good show for state workers.

Again, can't they at least charge this woman with child abuse while they are waiting to locate a live or dead Adam?

[WAR]

cb ... I'm guessing that we'll be reading about some reaction from some District Attorneys before too very long. There is some minor convolution regarding jurisdiction as well. Derby, KS is in Sedgwick County. Towanda, KS is in Butler County. I'm wondering if moving out of Sedgwick County besides away from the Derby School District wasn't strategic on the Herrman's part. I'm thinking that Butler County would finally field responsibility for prosecuting charges of abuse.

The other thing that we need to keep in mind is that the information that we have thus far is that printed in the local newspaper. It seems that the statements that the Herrmans have made to the media would constitute admissions of both fraud and abuse. But information reported by the media is a far cry from evidentiary qualifications for court.

There is an interesting article in the Wichita Eagle (Kansas.com) today. It's a timeline of events regarding the Adam Herrman case beginning with his birth. If this report is accurate, the 1996 report of abuse (the one that resulted in his removal from the Herrman household for two days) was the result of Valerie Herrman spanking Adam with a belt. He was returned to the Herrmans after they allegedly attended counseling wherein they were told that spanking a kid with a belt or any other instrument constitutes abuse. But then, (again, if the news reports are correct) Valerie Herrman states that Adam ran away in 1998 after she spanked him with a belt. So it would seem that Valerie admits to knowingly abusing Adam. Of course, this is the least of it if the family members' statements are even half true.

[concerned parent]

All these accusatory statements against the relatives speaking up now will only stop others from coming forward with what they saw. The more witnesses, the stronger the case the State will have against Valerie Herrman. The relatives seem like people who will suffer the rest of their lives, knowing that they could have prevented this and didn't know how to act or what to do.

It is very easy to point fingers and say what should have been done, but people who would report abuse of an animal might be reluctant to "interfere" in the upbringing of a child.

What is needed is more education for the public and better procedures by child protective services. The public needs to be educated about what constitutes abuse and what the proper reporting procedures are, as well as the possible consequences of not reporting, i.e. severe injury to the child and even death.

Most people who would beat or abuse a child would not tell the truth anyway, so asking them about allegations is pretty useless. Children need to be interviewed (and videotaped to make sure the interviewing techniques are not leading the child) whenever there is an allegation of abuse. Those who tip off SRS should not be identified to the parents. However, SRS (and I am talking about in any state, whatever the name of the agency that is responsible for protecting children) should keep a record of those who report and malicious reports should be handled severely.

I find the abuse as abhorrent, if not more, than most people, but blaming those who saw it after the fact without focusing on the reasons they did not report only means that in future, not only will such abuse continue to go unreported, but people will no longer be willing to testify that they did see the abuse.

[cb]

TO WAR and concerned parent:

I know that there isn't evidence, like photographs of bruising. However, you do have eyewitness statements and the agencies records. Perhaps there are medical records that can be dug up somewhere as well.

I hope that the other sibling (his brother) has had some kind of therapy or intervention so that the cycle doesn't repeat itself should he have children in the future.

This is so terribly sad.

Please update if there are new details.

[WAR]

cb ... I'll sure keep you updated as I get any new info. Concerned parent makes some very good points about family members obligations to report. I am retired from law enforcement after 37 years in the business. Way back in the day, our prosecutors didn't bother looking at family members with regard to prosecution. They seldom even considered them for witnesses because they weren't considered reliable because of vested interests.

About ten or twelve years ago various states began to prosecute spouses of abusers who didn't report abuse. Since then, its become prosecutorual policy in many parts of the United States to prosecute spouses for child endangerment for not reporting abusers. I guess the philosophy is that if we make it a high-risk proprosition to not report abusers, more abusers will get reported. Even so, I'm sure this philosophy drives some situations of abuse even further underground when the abuser is extremely terroristic and the spouse is the low-selfesteem doormat type (which is exactly the type terroristic abusers look for).

There is another terrible case going to court in Wichita right now. A 37-yr-old man is going to trial for sexually and physically abusing his step daughter for four years (between the ages of 7 and 11). The rapes were (allegedly)violent with the guy holding a gun to her head or a knife to her throat promising to kill her. Other physical abuse (allegedly) includes burning her with cigaretts, beatings, etc. The sick twist is that the guy is HIV positive and was during the time he was (allegedly) raping his step-daughter.

The strange part about this situation is that the mother has already been convicted of aggravated child endangerment. Its really unusual that an ancillary defendant would be tried before a primary defendant. It would seem that the facts of the step-father's crimes would have had to have been legally established in the mother's trial. I'm wondering how that will play out in the step-father's trial.

I almost feel bad about talking about these abuse cases in this forum. I hope no one is getting too skewed of a perception about Wichita, KS. It seems we've had our share of national media attention the past few years, but its really not all that bad of a place to live.

[WAR]

Here is the latest news regarding the search for Adam Herrman. Today, the Butler County Sheriff's Dept. is back at the Pine Ridge Trailer Park in Towanda, KS. They are acting on a "... tip from out-of-state." They have a backhoe and are dismantleing a large storeage shed.

[cb]

If the tip is accurate, then someone knew that a murder was committed? Or perhaps, it was a case of 'if someone had a body and needed to bury it then this is where might it be' sort of a thing. Although he could have run away from the abuse only to find trouble elsewhere and end up dead. Run-a-ways generally don't end up in ideal circumstances.

"Out of state" tip...curious.

Wouldn't it be great if Adam could be found alive and testify against the monstrous abuser?

BTW, WAR, bad things happen everywhere. I think that we are all aware of that. I don't think Kansas is worse than anywhere else.

[WAR]

The Butler County Sheriff's Dept. concluded its excavation of the Pine Ridge Trailer Park at about 1:30 P.M. They did not find any human remains. Sheriff Craig Murphy is playing it very close to the vest and he is not providing the media with very many details. His only comment on what they found was, "... we found some things."

This exzcavation was in follow-up to the first search the Sheriff's Dept. conducted at Pine Ridge Trailer Park on Dec. 31, 2008. During that search, investigators reportedly bored holes in the storeage shed's slab and probed underneath it. Sheriff Murphy advised the press that this probong provided the investigators with, "... an answer." But, again, he declined to elaborate on that statement.

Apparently, the investigation hasn't zeroed in on a particular area where they truly expect to find Adam. The last place Adam was seen before he went missing was the Pine Ridge Trailer Park in Towanda, KS. The storeage shed that was the focus of the excavation today was constructed at about the time that Adam went missing. Yet, the investigators thought it prudent to search the Whitewater River area between the Dec. 31 and Jan. 13 searches at Pine Ridge.

Although Sheriff Murphy keeps saying they haven't ruled out that Adam might still be alive, it would seem to me he expects to find Adam's remains. Peer Moore-Jansen (Chairman of the Anthropology Dept. at Wichita State University) was present today at the trailer park excavation as well as the search along the Whitewater River last Saturday.

Sheriff Murphy said that even though Adam has been missing for ten years, the case "... is not cold." He said that they will eventually resolve this case. I hope that means that the "answer" they found on Dec. 31 and the "things" they found in their excavation today amount to some significant evidence.

[cb]

Thanks WAR, I also caught David's update. I was reading quickly yesterday, and mistakenly took this trailer park as outside of his previous living arrangements.

It's amazing that if his adoptive parents did this, that they can live with themselves.
How do people go on? Why doesn't their conscience make them sick? I guess I always want to know what creates this void in humans, or if it was there when they were born. How are they not haunted?

(Poe's) "The tell Tale heart"....""dissemble no more! I admit the deed! --tear up the planks! here, here! --It is the beating of his hideous heart!"

[WAR]

Todays issue of the Wichita Eagle contains an article about Butler County District Attorney Jan Satterfield's reaction about the Adam Herrman case. It's a very interesting article. The Eagle quotes her reaction, " ... they are suspects in this case (Valerie and Doug Herrman) ... and there is a potential for charges of first degree felony murder, with the underlying crime being child abuse." There still is no body or human remains.

The Herrmans have 'lawyered-up' already. Valerie Herrman is being represented by Warner Eisenbise. Doug Herrman is being represented by Dan Monnat. Dan Monnat is the best known and highest caliber criminal defense attorney in outside of Kansas City.

Jan Satterfield has proven herself to be a very competent prosecutor and has experience working under the spotlight of the national media. Most recently Jan prosecuted a former correctional officer from a Kansas state prison who aided two inmates escape from the facility. The escapees were captured in New Mexico following a shoot-out with police. Prior to that Jan prosecuted an immigrant from Mexico who murdered a 19-yr-old co-ed who was, as it turned out, leading a secret life as an 'adult model.' (Of course the national media promoted the girl to the status of 'Porn Star.') The guy made it back to Mexico and Jan had to negotiate the legal maze of international extradition with a country adverse the Kansas death penalty at a time when the Kansas death penalty was in legal flux. She made it all work and got the guy back here and prosecuted.

With all this legal posturing going on all of a sudden, I'm really wondering what was found under that storage shed at the Pine Ridge mobile home park in Towanda last Thursday and on Dec. 31, 2008. So far, the only characterizations given by Sheriff Murphy have been, "an answer" and "some things." But a couple of days later, the lawyers are lining up. It makes me think that something of evidentiary value has shaken out of the trees somewhere.